Last leaf reflection
Oblivious to the friends that surrounded her bed, Martha Callaway lay on her side with one eye glued shut, facing the window. Through her other eye, milky with age, Martha peered through open blind slats at a young dogwood tree close to the nursing home. For the last four years Martha had observed the tree through the seasons. During spring she had gloried in the wonder of the white blossoms; they actually opened before the dark green leaves. This fall she had carefully watched the tree turn from green to yellow-green to a brilliant red. Over the last few days the dogwood had rapidly lost its leaves. Today, as the wind blew, a soft sifting of snow traced the tree bark. A single leaf remained on the tree. The dark red leaf shivered in the light wind. It vibrated back and forth, back and forth.
Cody, a Boykin Spaniel, licked Martha’s hand and triggered Martha’s thoughts.
Little dogwood, I’ve had a great life. I once was green like you. Yes, I was once young, too. I had great times in my life where I was green with my young husband. My children came and went before me, and my husband died. Those were sad, dry years. But these last two years have been wonderful. What? You’ve lost all of your leaves but one? Ah, and next year you’ll get new ones. I’ll be with my beloved husband, finally. My body will nourish the earth. I am so thankful for my new friends Wayne and Anna who have helped me with natural burial. Robin and Daniel are a wonderful couple and will have a great marriage, I’m sure. The persistence of all four finally paid off. They helped me achieve my simple goal of being placed in the earth in a wooden box with no intrusive chemicals. And my burial ground will be open to everyone in the state. I’ve been blessed, little dogwood.
Martha squinted and fixed her stare on the one remaining leaf. She focused on the little leaf to the best of her ability. Through the blur and haze or her eye, she noticed the deep red leaf. The leaf danced with the increased wind. It twirled round and round.
Clinging for dear life. That’s what you’re doing. That’s what I’ve been doing. I’ve been holding on for so long, but it’s time to go. My friends have completed my task. The hunt is over. I’m ready to go. What more could I ask for, little tree?
Suddenly, the leaf broke loose and fell to the ground. Martha let out a sigh, closed her eye and breathed her last, a smile on her face. Her four friends had been watching intently.
Wayne drew Anna tightly to himself and spoke gently in her ear, “I think she just passed away!”
“With a smile and a heart of gold,” Anna whispered back.
Daniel gently kissed Robin on her forehead and said, “What a wonderful old lady she was. She died in peace.”
A tear rolled down Robin’s cheek. Her deep blue eyes glistened. She held up her cherished engagement ring, turned toward Daniel and sighed, ’’What a treasure she was to all of us. Without her, Daniel, we’d have never met. Our lives are forever changed by this sweet woman.”
Cody wagged his tail and barked in agreement..